Bournemouth vs Brighton and Hove Albion. Premier League.
Vitality StadiumAttendance10,369.
Friday 15 September 2017 20:32, UK
Bournemouth will be looking to get their first points of the season when they host Brighton on Friday Night Football, live on Sky Sports Premier League from 7pm.
The Cherries have lost their opening four matches of the Premier League campaign and have only won five of their 23 league games in 2017.
Manager Eddie Howe is looking for his side to rediscover their winning feeling.
"If you are not in a good moment, it can be difficult," he said. "I think that's where re-finding that good feeling every team has when they are in a good passage of form is sometimes difficult and elusive.
"It sometimes just takes one moment to re-find all that, so that's what we are looking for."
Newly-promoted Brighton ended their winless start to the season with a 3-1 win over West Brom last time out.
Pascal Gross starred in the victory, scoring twice and providing an assist, but club-record signing Jose Izquierdo has been told by Chris Hughton to be patient, having played just nine minutes so far.
"He's very keen, and I suppose yes, it's a little bit of a difficult situation when you've spent the money that we have on somebody of his ability and quality," said the Seagulls boss. "But I think he understands he came here and is not at the same levels as everybody else in terms of fitness.
"There is no doubt he will get his opportunities and he is a quality player and we are very much looking forward to seeing him."
Bournemouth have no new injury concerns and Ryan Fraser could shake off his ankle knock in time to feature.
Junior Stanislas trained with the first team this week as he continues to work back to full fitness and Callum Wilson is still recovering from a serious knee injury.
Brighton expect captain Bruno to have recovered from a back problem and have no other fresh injury worries.
On-loan Chelsea forward Isaiah Brown has returned to training after his thigh injury while striker Sam Baldock continues his rehabilitation following calf surgery and midfielder Steve Sidwell (back) and Beram Kayal (broken leg) remain unavailable.
This will be the first top-flight meeting between Bournemouth and Brighton and the 101st league clash overall.
Bournemouth against Brighton will be the 1420th different top-flight meeting between two teams.
Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last six league games against Brighton (W3 D3), winning the last two. The Cherries last won three consecutive league clashes versus the Seagulls back in September 1966.
Brighton have won just once in their last eight visits to Bournemouth in league competition (D2 L5), running out 2-0 winners in October 2007, with Dean Cox and Bas Savage getting on the scoresheet.
Bournemouth have started the 2017-18 season with four league defeats - they have only lost their first five games to a league season on two previous occasions: 1994-95 (third tier) and 1983-84 (third tier) and they avoided relegation in both seasons.
Just three clubs have started a Premier League season with five defeats in their opening five games: Portsmouth in 2009-10, Sunderland in 2005-06 and Southampton in 1998-99, with the most recent two being relegated.
This could be the 39th different club that Jermain Defoe has played against in the Premier League - he's currently scored a goal against 35 different teams in the competition.
Brighton did well last week and Bournemouth have been struggling, but I think the Cherries will get off the mark here. They need to, it's a big game.
I remember on Soccer Saturday they had players talking about possibly aiming for Europe this season, but if they lose this game they are in big trouble.
Are teams getting used to playing against them? Teams who are playing three in midfield seem to be getting the better of them. This is not the game to change but perhaps they need to in other games.
It was a big win for Brighton against West Brom and if they could nick a draw that would be great for them.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (8/1 with Sky Bet)
Bournemouth are Sky Bet's 23/20 favourites for the victory with Brighton priced at 12/5 while the draw is a 23/10 chance. The Seagulls are currently 6/4 second favourites for relegation while their hosts have been cut to 7/4 following their disappointing start.
Jermain Defoe heads the first goalscorer market at 4/1 and is enhanced from 5/2 to 7/2 to net in a Cherries win in Sky Bet's Price Boosts, while Glenn Murray is considered the visitors' main threat at 6/1 to open the scoring.
